Portrait of M. R. Elden (2) probably dates from 1882. 1 It is dated from Whistler's known association with Matthew Robinson Elden (1839-1885).
According to the Pennells, it was a small version of the Portrait of H. R. Eldon (1) y243 (which has not been located) and was submitted to the London Whistler Memorial Exhibition of 1905, but rejected. 2
Portrait of M. R. Elden (2), Whereabouts unknown
Portrait of M. R. Eldon (3), Private Collection
The 1980 title gave the sitter's name incorrectly:
'Portrait of M. R. Elden (2)' is the preferred title.
According to the Pennells, this painting was a small version of Portrait of H. R. Eldon (1) y243. 4 It was, they said, 'a small half length ... it may be a copy.' 5 Since the original portrait is missing it is impossible to tell what it really looked like.
The artist Matthew Robinson Elden (1839-1885) was a close friend and frequent visitor to Whistler's studio from about 1876 until he went mad, dying in an asylum.
Portrait of M. R. Eldon (3), Private Collection
Whistler painted three portraits of him, Portrait of H. R. Eldon (1) y243, Portrait of H. R. Eldon (2) y244, and Portrait of H. R. Eldon (3) y245, which is the only one extant.
His name, incorrectly spelled as 'Eldon' in earlier publications, was corrected to 'Elden' in the online Whistler Correspondence edition in 2003.
Unknown.
Unknown.
Unknown.
According to the Pennells, it was submitted to the London Whistler Memorial Exhibition of 1905, but rejected. 6 Then, in 1911 the Pennells stated that 'a small half length ... is now in New York.' 7 Nothing further is known about it.
According to the Pennells, this painting, a small version of Portrait of H. R. Eldon (1) y243, was sent to the Memorial Exhibition of the Works of the late James McNeill Whistler, First President of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, New Gallery, Regent Street, London, 1905, but not hung. 8
1: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 244).
2: Pennell 1908 [more], vol. 1, p. 303.
3: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 244).
4: Pennell 1908 [more], vol. 1, p. 303.
5: Pennell 1911 A [more], p. 211.
6: Pennell 1908 [more], vol. 1, p. 303.
7: Pennell 1911 A [more], p. 211.
8: Pennell 1908, op. cit., p. 303.